Earlier this year, European Parliament members Anna Strolenberg and Sigrid Friis wrote a letter to Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen, calling on him to develop an EU strategy on protein diversification. The letter was supported by a broad coalition of MEPs from across the political spectrum.
The MEPs urged the European Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy to support alternative proteins, including targeted support to help farmers and value chain actors scale up protein crop production. They also called for strengthened investments in innovation, positioning the EU as a global leader in sustainable protein development.
Now, Strolenberg and Friis have received a response from Hansen, indicating that the Commission commits to developing a comprehensive plan to tackle Europe’s protein challenges. The plan will reportedly take a holistic approach to production and consumption, including:
- Boosting domestic production of plant-based proteins
- Reducing reliance on imported feed
- Promoting sustainable and competitive solutions across the agri-food chain.
“Crucial topic”
In January, over 130 organisations wrote to Hansen asking him to develop an EU Action Plan for Plant-Based Foods by 2026. However, Hansen has previously failed to commit to this, saying that the Commission should not take a top-down approach to what people eat.
At an event in February, food industry stakeholders joined MEPs from various political parties to support protein diversification. The event was centred around a position paper from nonprofit organisation SustainableFoundations, which outlines how polarised views on the future of proteins could be reconciled to build a more sustainable future.
Later that month, the European Commission presented its vision for the future of agriculture and food; however, the plan was criticised for not going far enough to ensure sustainable food production. For example, it lacks clear strategies to reduce meat and dairy consumption or reform VAT so that rates are based on the healthiness and sustainability of different food types.
“I’m happy we managed to push this crucial topic onto the EU agenda – but we’re not stopping here,” said Strolenberg. “I’ll keep pushing to make sure this plan delivers real change for farmers, consumers, and the planet!”
